German For Dummies

Paulina Christensen, Anne Fox, Wendy Foster

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781118018484
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: German Language
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

The fun and easy way to learn the fascinating language of German with integrated audio clips!

German For Dummies, Enhanced Edition uses the renowned Berlitz approach to get you up and running with the language-and having fun too! Designed for the total beginner, this guide introduces you to basic grammar and then speedily has you making conversation. Integrated audio clips let you listen and learn as you hear pronunciations and real-life conversations. Fun and games sections ease your way into German fluency, phonetic spellings following expressions and vocabulary improve your pronunciation, and helpful boxes and sidebars cover cultural quirks and factoids.

• Master the nuts and bolts of German grammar
• Learn phrases that make you sound German-and know what never to say in German

Whether you're just looking for a greeting besides "Guten tag" or you want to become a foreign exchange student, this enhanced edition of German For Dummies gives you what you need to learn the language-as much as you like, as fast as you like!

Part I

Getting Started

In this part . . .

You have to start somewhere, but we bet that you know a lot more German than you think. Don’t think so? Then check out Chapter 1. Chapter 2 covers some nuts-and-bolts grammar info that, well, you need to absorb. But don’t worry — we make it fun. The other chapters get you up to speed with some basic expressions and vocabulary you can use right away, such as saying hello and goodbye, expressing numbers, time, and measurements, or talking about your family. Jetzt geht’s los! (yêtst geyts lohs!) (Here we go!)

Chapter 1

You Already Know a Little German

In This Chapter

Recognizing the German you already know

Spotting words that aren’t what they seem

Using German idioms

The best way to learn a new language is to jump right in — no pussyfooting around. In this chapter, you get a head start in German by seeing some of the language you’re already familiar with. You also find out some popular German expressions, and you get the hang of why you need to be careful with what are called “false friends,” that is, words that seem to be the same in both languages but actually have different meanings.

The German You Know

Because both German and English belong to the group of Germanic languages, quite a few words are either identical or similar in both languages. Words that share a common source are called cognates. Another group of words common to German and English stem from Latin-based words that English speakers are familiar with. Many of these have direct equivalents...